Coastal Contacts Inc. (TSX:COA) has doubled its Vancouver workforce to more than 500 employees in the past year and plans to add up to another 100 local staff by the end of March, CEO Roger Hardy told Business in Vancouver November 30.
Hardy is particularly keen for his online contact lens and eyeglasses seller to hire those who have experience working at companies that have grown phenomenally.
He also likes people who have worked for what he calls “category killers” – ventures that transformed how consumers bought products or services.
Some new executives hired in the past half year include:
- Aaron Magness, who was the former senior director of brand marketing and business development at online shoe seller Zappos;
- Peter Lee, who is the former director of IT operations at online movie provider Netflix; and
- Bo Wanghammar, who formerly held executive positions at the free daily newspaper producer Metro International.
Hardy has expanded the company to about 725 staff, up from 164 five years ago.
“Next year is going to be a big year,” Hardy said. “We’re driving toward a tipping point where people are fed up with buying glasses the old way. That’s what customers are telling us. They’re ecstatic about buying online. The category is definitely shifting.”
Hardy said Coastal Contacts offered approximately 10% off products on so-called “cyber Monday” November 28, prompting traffic on the site to double and sales to jump 150%, compared with last year.
Analysts expect the company to generate $180 million in revenue in 2011. That compares with $153 million in 2010 and $140 million in 2009.
Glen Korstrom
@GlenKorstrom